Explore Europe in Retirement

With the expansion of travel it may seem like the glamour of journeying to far-off places has disappeared.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  There are many Americans who have never left the country or have travelled only for business.  My advice is to see the world.  So why not explore Europe in retirement?  It’s a wonderful thing to do and retirement provides the time you never had before.  Once you escape the daily demands of a job or career the world opens up some incredible opportunities that, up until now, you could only dream about.  We have been to Europe more than a dozen times and there is so much to see we can see ourselves going back again and again.  But there is some advice I would give to those of you who thinking about extended travel to Europe or anywhere for that matter.  This advice falls into two categories.

The first is to maximize the cost of transportation both in time and money.  We know that airfare is not cheap especially if you upgrade your seats for the long flights across the oceans.  Instead of thinking in terms of a one week or two-week vacation, why not extend the time to a month or more?  After all, the effort it took to get over to Europe in the first place was a significant undertaking.  Being at the airport two hours prior to the flight, waiting in the airport itself, checking bags and going through the security process was almost a job in itself.  Even if you get chauffeured to the airport and have top TSA approvals, it can still be a hassle to go through all of that.  And, when you consider the time on the plane itself, why would you want to do that more often than you have to.  Instead of a two-week journey that involves about thirty hours of travel-related activities, why not leverage that effort in getting there by adding a couple of extra weeks to your stay?  It may sound extravagant but it’s really not.  Additionally, you may be able to negotiate a rate for your accommodations that rival your cost of a hotel for a week or two because when you rent by the month your cost may actually not be that much higher than your original hotel rate.  Does that sound unrealistic?  It’s not if you do your research.  The bottom line is to examine all the possibilities when you set out to explore Europe in retirement.

The second piece of advice is to make the most of your time there by reaching out for the expertise of a qualified guide.  While some people might see this as just an added expense, the wise traveler who has experienced the wonders of a great guide immediately see the value of a more carefully planned excursion that can, quite often, cut through the long lines and take you behind the scenes the public doesn’t get access to.  Our guide in Rome did exactly that and our experience was amazing.  If you’re spending the money and the time to see Europe, why skimp on the cost?  It may be your only chance to see the sights you’ve been dreaming of your whole life.  If you’re going to explore Europe in retirement, do it the right way and don’t hold back.  The memories you create will constantly remind you that you made the right decision.

A Reliable Guide Can Help You Explore Europe in Retirement

There’s one extra piece of advice I would give even though I’ve covered the first two points already and that is to enjoy the planning process itself and take it seriously.  Careful planning is worth the effort, but the effort itself can be very enjoyable.  Plan your trip with no limitations.  Have a brainstorming session with your traveling party and just keep throwing ideas on the table.  Are you going to Paris?  Make a list of all the museums and paintings you want to see.  Get a list of the top restaurants and take the time to see which ones are the least expensive because you’ll be surprised with the bargains you can find.  Where do your fellow tourists like to go and why?  Of course, make sure you see all the important sites because it would be crazy to return and not seen the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre or the Arc de Triumph, but when are the best times to go so the crowds are at a minimum?  Be sure to research the places outside the city that would be worth a day trip.  In the process, check out the mass transportation and the availability of the same to get to the places you want to see.  It might save the cost of a car rental and the stress and strain of driving in a foreign country.  I did that when I was younger and am determined not to do it again.  By and large, Americans resist mass transit but I have to say Europe does a very good job with train travel and, besides, you get to see how the locals live and that’s part of the experience.

We discussed Paris but the same applies to many different places in Europe.  Fully explore the top regions and see how many you can put together to extend your trip and your experience as much as possible.  There’s more to see than Paris in France alone.  The wine countries in southern France are incredible and the coast of France attracts the rich and famous from around the world.  And we’ve only mentioned France at this point.  Portugal has a following that is growing all the time, and the same thing can be said about Spain.  Any country along the Mediterranean Sea offers coastal cities that attract people from around the world.  There are many people from around the world who explore Europe in retirement.

But you don’t even have to see the Mediterranean to be amazed at what Europe has to offer.  The rivers through Germany, Austria and Hungary are spectacular and the number of castles you can see is astounding.  Talk about picture opportunities!  Europe is magical and the different cultures and foods that you find are amazing.  Anyone who has researched their family tree will often find they have roots in Europe and that aspect alone can offer the research trip of a lifetime.  There is so much to see and do and we didn’t even touch on the United Kingdom or Scandinavia.  Yes, America is a great country, and we should make sure we see everything in our country at some point, but Europe is an attraction that you should experience at least once. Everyone should get the chance to explore Europe in retirement.  I strongly suggest to get out and explore the world and Enjoy Retired Life!

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